Agenda

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City Council Regular Meeting

Meeting Date:

07/28/2020

BACKGROUND

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) continues to move forward with the planning of the IH-35 NEX Project which will add travel lanes (elevated and surface) to IH-35 from AT&T Center Parkway to north of FM 3009. TxDOT is currently in the procurement process for a Design-Build firm to complete the project. All the utility relocations associated with the IH-35 NEX Project will be done by the Design-Build firm, except for a few select facilities, including the Riata Lift Station. Because of the complexities and lead time required to relocate a lift station, TxDOT has requested that the relocation be done ahead of the other utility relocations for the project. The Riata Lift Station is located roughly at IH-35 and Fairlawn Avenue on the northbound frontage road.

City Staff is recommending the design, bid, and construction phase engineering services be awarded to Utility Engineering Group (UEG) due to their extensive experience in working on utility relocation projects with TxDOT on behalf of several local utility companies. UEG also has an impressive reputation for the design of lift stations and have designed several lift stations in the City of Schertz that were constructed by private developers and dedicated to the City. UEG is one of the City’s current On-Call Consulting Engineer Firms.

The UEG scope also includes land acquisition services which will be required to identify and acquire the new lift station property and associated easements.

Because the relocation of the Riata Lift Station is caused by an Interstate Highway Project, the design and construction costs for the relocation will be reimbursed by TxDOT through a Standard Utility Agreement, which is finalized after the final design is complete. Because of the timing of when the Standard Utility Agreement is finalized, reimbursements for project expenses will begin approximately at the time construction begins on the lift station, so funds to pay for UEG’s services will be taken from the FY 19-20 Public Works Operational Budget and will be reimbursed in the future.

GOAL

To obtain authorization from City Council to execute a task order agreement with Utility Engineering Group, PLLC to complete the design of the Riata Lift Station Relocation Project.

COMMUNITY BENEFIT

Completing the relocation of the lift station is a requirement for the IH-35 NEX Project to be completed by TxDOT, which will have a major impact on the community.

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED ACTION

Approve 20-R-80 to authorize the professional services with Utility Engineering Group, PLLC.

FISCAL IMPACT

City Staff is requesting the base contract be awarded in the amount of $129,795 with a contingency of $13,205 for a total not to exceed amount of $143,000. Funding for the relocation project will come from the FY 19-20 Public Works Operational Budget, but will ultimately be reimbursed by TxDOT because it is a relocation associated with an Interstate Highway Project.

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends authorization of the task order agreement with Utility Engineering Group, PLLC to complete the design of the Riata Lift Station Relocation Project as identified in the attachments hereto.

Attachments
20-R-80
UEG Contract
Map